Meet Sally: Advocate for Bone Health

Sally Fullman is a leader in her New Jersey community and an advocate for better bone health. She also is a volunteer instructor in Project Healthy Bones, an exercise program of the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services and an active NOF support group member. Sally is passionate about helping osteoporosis patients and those at risk learn more about improving their bone health. Through her community involvement, she is raising awareness of the importance of strong bones every day!

“For the past two years I have participated in NOF’s support group, became active in an osteoporosis exercise and education program and, most empowering, met with my Members of Congress in Washington, DC in October of 2009! I want to encourage all those around me to become aware and be a strong voice for strong bones." Read Sally's story...

Jennie Image is a volunteer NOF support group leader in the Dallas, Texas area. She is an advocate for better bone health busy at work leading three support groups that are free and open to the public. Jennie is passionate about helping osteoporosis patients and those at risk to learn more about improving their bone health and how to live with the disease. Through her community involvement she is raising awareness of the importance of strong bones every day!

"During 2009, more than 90 people contacted me about the support group and a good number of those attended meetings. Some volunteered, and by October of that year, we were strong enough in numbers to organize a community event. On October 17, 2009 more than 40 participants walked 1.3 miles to raise $970 in support of NOF’s mission at the North Dallas Steps for Strong Bones® Community Walk at Crowley Park in Richardson, Texas." Read Jennie's Story...

Lynn Kohlmeier, M.D., is an endocrinologist, researcher and instructor. She is an advocate for better bone health and a community leader in Spokane, Wash. Dr. Kohlmeier champions exercise and a healthy lifestyle which promotes bone health, working with her patients to prevent and treat osteoporosis.

Dr. Kohlmeier, as a member of the Washington Osteoporosis Coalition (WOC) – Spokane, actively recruits guest speakers to educate local practitioners about osteoporosis and bone health and is often a speaker herself. She has successfully secured funding to develop and maintain multiple screening programs in the Spokane area and coordinates staffing and locations for screening events. Through her involvement with several local and national organizations, including NOF, Dr. Kohlmeier is raising awareness of the importance of better bone health every day! Read More...

Meet Linda: Advocate for Bone HealthMeet Linda Johnson from Brentwood, Maryland

After suffering several painful fractures, Linda Johnson was finally diagnosed with osteoporosis at age 43. While at first relieved to have a diagnosis, Linda was devastated when she learned that because she was premenopausal there was little her doctor could do to help prevent future bone loss. That was back in 1991. Today, Linda has found an exercise and treatment plan that works and is an advocate for better bone health. On May 21, 2009 Linda shared her compelling story at a congressional briefing hosted by NOF, in conjunction with the National Coalition for Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases (Bone Coalition), to engage Congress in an action plan for making bone health a national priority.

“Someone once asked me if osteoporosis hurts. I had to think about it for a moment, and then I told her that osteoporosis is called the “silent disease” because, like termites in a house, we do not hear these termites as they eat away at the foundation of our homes. It isn’t until the beams holding our homes together are weakened and our home starts to fall down that we suddenly hear and see the problem. Osteoporosis is silent, and often painless, while our bones are quietly becoming weaker, until it screams at you with the pain of your first fracture.” Read more...

Alice was diagnosed with osteoporosis in 1991, 11 years after having a hysterectomy and no hormone replacement therapy because of side effects. In 2004, when she had to go on long-term disability, she decided to write a book, Living Day to Day with Severe Osteoporosis-What Every Person Should Know Regardless of Age. The focus of the book is on living with osteoporosis and preventing and treating the disease.

“After learning that I had to go on disability, I spent six weeks sadly wondering why it had to be me, and then I realized I could speak out about this disease. After all, I had been dealing with the challenges of living with osteoporosis for years. I became an advocate for NOF and started a support group in my local community of Cottonwood, Ariz. I even wrote a book.” Read More...

Lee Bursley

Lee Bursley was diagnosed with osteoporosis at the age of 55. After the initial shock, Lee, who has a background in social work, became busy raising awareness about osteoporosis and bone health. Lee, pictured third from the left in the top row with the support group she leads, was empowered by her osteoporosis diagnosis to make a difference.

“As a social worker, I knew that advocacy can have a powerful impact on raising awareness and on public education… How do I find time to be a bone health advocate? I don’t find time. I make time. Being a bone health advocate is a priority for me. It helps give meaning and purpose to my experience of being a person living with osteoporosis.” Read More...

Dana Kurland was diagnosed with osteoporosis when she was very young, and has been fighting back ever since. Her efforts to improve her bone density and to raise awareness in her community about bone health and osteoporosis make her an outstanding advocate for better bone health. Dana, pictured right with her father, was empowered by her osteoporosis diagnosis to make a difference.

"It is very important to me to be an advocate for osteoporosis since I personally have suffered from the disease and know how it can affect one's quality of life." Read More...